Shadow - Stoppage Time
Shadow Adopts Snow Removal Policy 
January 24, 2012

For the love of the game!  Love takes work sometimes, but love makes it worth the energy, effort and sacrifice!  We do a lot for our children; we want what is best for them, while being able to learn lessons along the way that help them mature into healthy, loving young people.  This is why we had a great number of Shadow people in Cheney in November trying to clear fields in the pouring snow; this is why we had a Shadow crew this past Saturday working 5 hours to prepare fields for the first home games of 2012...for our kids and for their love of playing.
 
As such, we want to communicate to our club members this new, board-approved Snow Removal Policy so we can better serve our players, and so that we all continue to help playing a role in making this a positive place for kids to play soccer.  We thank you for your support of your child and of your club, and we look forward to seeing a great many Shadow teams playing over the coming weeks as we enter one of the busiest soccer times of the year.
 
In the Spirit of the Game,

Sean Bushéy
Technical Director
Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club

Snow Removal & Winter Weather Policy

Shadow is excited about the memories created while playing this great sport.  Some memories will be about what happened on the field and some will be what happened off of the field...and some will be about what we did to the field.
 
Shadow teams play year 'round.  We have earned the right to do so.  Our Regional Club League plays through the winter months and the State Cups we participate in begin (high school aged boys) in January. To provide the best possible opportunities for our players, we need the help of all.  The alternative choices are not ones we want to make:
a.  Give away our home games; or,
b.  Not compete. 
 
The City of Spokane Park and Recreation Department has adopted a snow removal policy.  When snow falls on the turf fields at Dwight Merkel Sports Complex (DMC), Park and Recreation staff will remove snow until Friday evening to a level of 3/4".  Any snow that falls and accumulates from Friday evening until game times on Saturdays or Sundays, must be removed by members of our club one hour prior to the start of the first game.  Snow may only be removed by plastic shovels and wheelbarrows, not snowblowers or plows, per SPRD policy.

Joe Albi Stadium is a separate facility altogether.  Because of the number of teams we now have competing during winter months, it is necessary that we have more than 2 fields at our disposal.  Albi Stadium, per school district policy, does not allow the snow to be removed by the City's equipment, so it can only be done by hand with plastic shovels and wheelbarrows. This is likely to be the Club's responsibility.  

We may need to clear Albi a week prior to playing because if the snow sits in the stadium and we get a thaw and then a freeze, we are going to have heavy work on our hands to make the field playable.

In order to work within the guidelines and get fields into playable conditions, we need many volunteers from ALL Shadow premier teams to help clear fields, especially those hosting home games that weekend.  However, we must all understand that we are one.  As such, even if you are not playing at home on a particular weekend but you are available to help, we would ask that you would.  If games get cancelled because a field is not playable, it gets rescheduled. This in turn could affect others on another weekend.  We are all affected by one another; we must see this as a good thing.  It is what makes a community function.  It also makes a community come closer together; our club is one of our communities, so if you can help, please do so.  In the end, remember the cause: helping players (children) play, which brings all kinds of positive things: fitness, activity, learning, camaraderie, etc.

Shadow Field Clearing Procedure:
1.  If snow has fallen after fields have been cleared by Friday night, Shadow coaching staff will evaluate field conditions at 7 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday game days.
2.  If snow removal is needed, staff will immediately call and text message the coaches and managers letting them know field clearing volunteers are needed.  Teams at home have primary responsibility to ensure fields are cleared and playable. Many hands make light work!
3.  Beginning at 8 a.m., coaches and managers will text and e-mail players and parents from their team, letting them know their help is needed to clear fields.  It is imperative that each team bring their own plastic shovels, plastic rakes, small tarps to place snow on, and/or wheelbarrows.  
4.  The Coach at the field will serve as the lead coordinator during the clearing process.
5.  As snow falls during the game, Shadow teams playing will be responsible before and at half time to help keep the lines viewable.
 
Shadow Winter Weather Policy:
For home and away games, Shadow follows the Washington Youth Soccer Travel Policy for guidance on inclement weather and unplayable fields.  

Shadow Team Practices:
For team practices held on days with inclement weather, Shadow will follow these guidelines:
1.  If Spokane School District 81 has been closed for the day, all Shadow practices will be cancelled.
2.  If school is in session, but inclement weather has arrived during the day, Shadow will make decisions by 2:00 p.m. about whether or not practices will be held that evening.  
3.  Parents and players will be contacted by e-mail from their coach or manager IF practice is cancelled.  Assume practice is "on" unless you are notified otherwise by e-mail prior to 2:00 p.m.
4.  Safety first!  Because Shadow welcomes members from throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho, we encourage players and parents to put safety first when it comes to driving distances to and from practices and games during periods of inclement weather.  If you feel roads are unsafe for travel, please stay home.